13 Things to Do in Yogyakarta, Indonesia: 2+ Days of Adventure & Culture

Yogyakarta is a relatively small region on the relatively small island of Java. Who knew this little town would be so chock full of wild nights and stunning sights? Not me, that’s for sure.

You can ride in a musical car covered in LED that makes you feel like you’re on LSD or sit in complete silence at sunrise in front of a temple. And to think, I almost missed it all because of some bad naan sauce!

Yep, the night before I headed out to Yogyakarta, I thoroughly enjoyed one of my most favorite foods ever, naan (love you, naan!), and then thoroughly puked my guts out all night in Kuala Lumpur. Not cool, naan sauce. Not cool.

But, in the end, I make my flight the next morning, and I got to explore all of the fun things to do in Yogyakarta.

Things to do in Yogyakarta + The Best Yogyakarta Tours

Yogyakarta Itinerary: Day 1

Hit the temples as the sun comes up and then head off to a ready to erupt volcano! As long as you line your Yogyakarta itinerary with the right tour groups, you can easily do both of these in one day. Just choose a tour below that offers it.

I’ve handed over some choices for you so you can choose the best Yogyakarta tour for you but it may be a bit too much for some to do in both days, so choose wisely!

1. Temples

C’mon, you can’t visit a city in Indonesia without checking out some temples.

They may not make for crazy cave dropping or hiking, but they’re worth a visit just for the majestic pictures and that warm humble feeling you get when you’re standing on one of the most magnificent architectural structures on earth.

Pro tip: Get in early in the morning to avoid crowds.

The big 2 are:

Borobudur and

Prambanan

The best way to visit these temples is by making to Borobudur for sunrise. So set your alarm, grab your coffee, and head over. You can even join a Yogyakarta temple tour to make sure everything goes according to plan.

2. Merapi Volcano

Merapi is the largest active volcano on the island of Java, which means it could erupt at any moment, with you standing right there in your hiking boots. Pretty cool, huh?

It’s a must on your Yogyakarta itinerary.

Supposedly, this volcano erupts every three years, but whether you tour it right after an eruption or just before (hopefully not too close to before), the surrounding area is fascinating, and the hike is invigorating.

4. Fenced in Trees

You take a stroll blindfolded in between these two fenced-in trees and make a wish while you walk. If you make it to the other side, your wish will come true. If you fail, heck, try again. You deserve your wishes!

You’ll need to be loosely led by someone else so you don’t ram into the back of anyone, but he or she will otherwise remain silent. (Bring a friend or make one while you’re there!)

I made it through on the first time. Yes! Clumsy little me. Too bad I forgot what I wished for now.

5. Light Up Cars

You wanna know what to do in Yogyakarta? This!

You can pay about $6 to get into a pedal-powered VW Beetle that is lit up all over with LED lights and be driven around the center of town, Alun Alun.

Trippy, man

These cars also have wireless music blasting from speakers throughout the car, so it’s a loud, obnoxious, bright, wild adventure. It’s one of those weird, random but cool kinda things to do in Yogyakarta.

6. Shopping and Exploring Malioboro

Yes to markets! Malioboro is an iconic shopping district in Yogyakarta.

It’s a long, bustling street that absolutely must be on your Yogyakarta itinerary. You can practice your bartering skills over flip-flops and sarongs and then head out to check out a pub for a beer.

7. Street Art

So Yogyakarta is an artist town. Experimental artist from all around come to show off their skills on canvas and concrete walls.

You could fill a week-long Yogyakarta itinerary just with hunting down the legal and illegally placed art along walls and buildings in this city. The amount of color, texture, depth, and dimension is something out of this world.

Things to do in Yogyakarta: 3 days +

Now, if you just can’t manage to tear yourself away after three days, it’s OK! There are so many more things to do in Yogyakarta. I wish I had the time to do these activities when I was there.

6. Goa Jomblang

Spelunking anyone? Goa Jomblang is a vertical cave that you drop into.

Well, you’ll be lowered into the cave, by a tour guide, along with another cave diver.

When you stand inside this cave with your mud galoshes and your headlamp on, you’ll definitely be channeling a bit of Indiana Jones for a second.

The drive out to the cave takes a couple of hours, and you’ll be doing a lot of waiting as other tourists are lowered into the cave after you. But whether or not you’re into caving, this is one of the most beautiful experiences you can possibly add to your Yogyakarta itinerary.

13. Progo River Rafting

Can’t get enough rivers and waterfalls?

Well here’s more to add to your Yogyakarta itinerary. A Yogyakarta tour guide will pick you up for a full day of river rafting yet another river, that not only leads you along five different waterfalls but also takes you to a World Unesco temple compound.

Don’t forget, if you’re still up for more adventure, some of the most popular adventure activities are accessible from Jogjakarta.

If you’re looking to climb volcanos and get a peek at sunrise, I can’t recommend visiting Mount Bromo enough! Not enough? Need a bit more adrenaline? You could climb into a crater at 3 am to watch blue flame jut from the earth’s crust at Kawah Ijen.

Both are incredibly epic!

Transportation Tip for Indonesia:

While you can simply book at the pier, bus or train station, you may want to book ahead for certain legs of your journey to guarantee that you get a seat on the day you need to travel. 12go.asia is the best way to do this. Book your next trip ahead of time so you have one less thing to worry about.

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Hello!

Hi, friend! My name is Nina Ragusa and I've been climbing volcanos, basking on exotic beaches, and dabbling in new cultures since 2011. I work abroad and remotely to support my adventure travel addiction. Follow along if you're interested in getting work abroad to travel more. Mission: Live and work on all continents.

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